Yes I did both times and both times I used it to have a shower after the birth. The hospital did not provide towels. I also took an extra pillow the second time to help with feeding position as you only get two.

I took a lovely new black fluffy (but very cheap) towel and used it as you do only get a hand towel and although the first shower after was wonderful it was somewhat disconcerting as I got covered in black fluff! Next time I will just take an old towel!

Ok. I'll pack the towel, I must have used one last time as I was in the hospital 2 days after giving birth...!

They just take up so much space in a little bag! Starting to pack my bag and thinking about what bag to take, bag last time was too big and in the way, but will be in a bigger room this time (different hospital!)

How many maternity towels did you take? Did your hospital provide any? Last time I used about 800, my waters broke and I was in hospital 12 hours just waiting for something to happen, used at least 750 of the towels then. Afterwards I didn't use too many. There were some provided but once I had used them I used the ones we took in, and my husband re-stocked me! Wondered if the hospital would have given me more had I asked or whether it's something you have to take. Guessing it differs between hospitals actually?!

Yes, manky old very thin beach towels that took up hardly any space. Bigger than the hospital towels and I stayed a few days each time and showered a lot! Regarding pads, I used the hospital ones till they took catheter out and my own after. I only used about 6 per day max, but I had CS both times and as the midwife explained, they give you a good scrape out!

I was given an NHS incontinence sheet to lay on until the second day when the catheter was out and I was mobile again (after spinal/forceps/episiotomy). No one offered me pads but I had taken my own. The only thing they offered was advice to not use normal ST's but to use big thick maternity pads, which at first I thought was a bit over the top but soon realised the wisdom of it! I took a smallish towel and used the hospital smaller ones as I didn't have anywhere to dry a big towel (there was a small rail on the back of a locker but it wouldn't have coped with a bath towel).

Yes both times and used them both times. I asked the hosp this time if they had towels and they said they only had small ones. I didn't take a dark towel (don't have any). Towel did get covered in blood but not end of world I just washed it when I got home. Flip flops for the shower is another good tip (more practical than slippers).